Automatic fuel-changing valve.



I. S. CONNELLY.

AUTOMATIC FUEL CHANGING.VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16, I9 1?- Patented Mar. 26, 1918.

aonusaconnnnm or roar ARTHUR, TEXAS.

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san t i n of Le Patent Patented Mar. 26,1918.

; Application filedMarch m, 1917. Serial in). 155,374.

To: aZZ tuhomit m concern! i i it known that 1,.JOHN' SPCONNELLY, a citizen of the United Statesyresiding at Port Arthur, in the'county of Jefferson and happens, however, that for longer or shorter periods of time the supply of naturaljgas is entirely cut off, or so reduced, that plants depending thereonhave to. be shut down, .un less arrangements be made for operatmg them with other fuel.

It isthe object of my invention toprovide' an automatic mechanism, especially adapted for use in connection: with small plants employing an internal combustion engine as the motor, that will 'operateto supply-such engine with gassolong as the pressure in the gas system is above a certain amount, and to automatically out off the connection with the gas supply andat the same instant put the enginein communi cation with a supply of liquid fuel, wheneverthe supply of gaseous fuel is reduced beyond a determined amount, as indicated by the pressure in the gas supply system.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of. apparatus embodying my invention. V I

Fig. 2 is a section through the: controlling valve and some of the'adjacent parts.

In the'accompanying drawings, 2 represents a fuel supply pipe leading to anginternal. combustion engine, not shown, the fuel being in gaseous or vapor-form. v3

indicates a service pipe connected with. a

system that supplies natural or artificial gas, and 4, a liquid fuel pipe, communicating with a source of supply thatwill be individual to the plant with which my apparatus is used. The three pipes thus far referred to connect respectively with a three-Wayvalve 5, The ports and passages in the turning plug of the valve are so disposed, that when one source of supply is in communication with pipe 2 leading to the engine, the other supply source is cut off, and vice versa, as indicated in Fig. 2. An adjustable valve 7 connected withthe supply pipe 2 is employed to regulate the amount of air admitted to such pipetobe miXed withthe fuel to produce the readily inflammable charges that are successively delivered to the internal combustion engine. It will be understood thatthe pipe 4 is open andin freecommunication with the oil sup ply, so that whenever the th'reenay'valve 5 is turned toput the engine in connnunication with the said pipe 4, then oil will be drawn by suction through the pipe 2 and into the enginecylinder.

The rotary plug of the valve 5 is provided with an exterior arm 10, by which the- ,valve may be manipulated.

11 indicates a diaphragm controller of suitable construction, connected by a pipe 12 with the gas supply system, so that the operation of the diaphragm is controlled by the pressure of gas in such system. Connected with the movable diaphragm ofthe controller, so as to be moved thereby, is a stem 13, that engages with and operates a lever 14, which in turn connected by a cord 15with the arm 10 of the three-way val v'e. Upon the lever 14 are suitable counter-balancing weights 16, and connected with the arm 10 are other counterbalancing weights 17,"[l1QS6 being used or not as circumstances may require, in order that theparts shallinove with sufficient freedom anduease.

It is to be understood that when an apparatus such as l have described and illustrated is used, the engine will be run by gas whenever that practicable, and that resort to the: supplemental liquid fuel supply will be had only when the supply in the gas system, and incidentally the pressure therein, is so reduced, fromone cause or another,

that sufficient fuel will not be suppliedto properly operate the engine. Under nortions indicated. by dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings. that is, the diaphragm is distended, and the valve, through its connect tions with the diaphragm, is turned into the position indicated in Fig. 2, putting the gas supply-pipe 3 into communication with the engine-connected pipe 2, and at the same time cutting ofi' communication between the engine pipe and the liquid fuel supply. When, however, the pressure in the gas system falls to such a degree that the diaphragm is no longer distended, thereby indicating that pipe 3 Will not supply sufficient fuel to run the engine, the parts automatically known in the art.

assume the positions indicated in full lines in Fig. 1, cutting ofi? communication between the engine and the gas supply, and estab lishing a communication with the fluid fuel supply. This change of connections, between engine and source of supply, is not only automatic, but practically instantaneous, so that the running of the engine is not stopped by such change, nor is its speed materially affected. 7

As stated, my invention is intended particularly for use in connection with small power plants, such, for instance, as are used to generate electricity for a single dwelling or establishment, and it has therefore been devised so as to be entirely automatic in its operations, thus making the services of an attendant unnecessary; to be simple in construction, so that it is not liable to get out of order; reliable in operation, and cheap in cost, so that it may be economically used in small unit plants.

I have deemed it unnecessary to illustrate the engine or motor and the means for starting and stopping the latter, as these may be of many different kinds and types well I have also thought it unnecessary to show more than one means or connection by which the diaphragm operates the three-way valve; for, while this is a form of connection that I have used with success, others for accomplishing the same results and coming within the principle of my invention, will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

'What I claim is:

V 1. In apparatus for automatically changing from one kind of fuel to another in operating internal combustion engines, the combination of a fuel supply pipe leading to the engine, a service pipe connected with a gas supply system leading to, the said engine supply pipe, a service pipe connected with a supply of liquid fuel leading to the engine supply pipe, valve mechanism arranged to completely cut off one source of supply to the engine pipe and simultaneously establish the other and vice versa, and automatically operating means controlled by the pressure of gas in the gas supply system for operating the said valve mechanlsm to cut off the gas supply when the pressure falls below a determined degree and to re store it when the pressure is above that degree. 7 2. In apparatus for automatically changing from one kind of fuel to another in operating internal combustion engines, the

falls belowthe said de ree.

tions for delivering thereto respectively gaseous fuel and liquid fuel, a single valve for controlling the supply from said connectlons and automatic means controlled by the pressure of the gaseous fuel being delivered arranged to operate the said valve substantially as and for the -purposes set forth.

3. In apparatus foroautomatically changing from one kind of fuel to another in operating internal combustion engines, the combination of an engine supply pipe, a gaseous fuel supply pipe, a liquid fuel sup? ply pipe, a single three-way valve device connecting the said three pipes and means for operating the valvecontrolled by the pressure of the gaseous fuel being supplied, arranged to out off suchgas supply when the pressure falls below a determined degree and simultaneously turn on the'supply of liquid fuel, and to cut oil the latter and restore the supply of gaseousfuehwhen the pressure of the latter again increases.

4L. In apparatus for automatically chang ing from one kind of fuel to another in operating internal combustion engines, the combination of an engine supply pipe, a gaseous fuel supply-pipe, a liquid fuel supply pipe, a single three-way valve connecting the said three plpes, an adpistable air valve con nected with the supply pipe, and automatic means controlled by the supply of gaseous fuel for operating the said three-way valve.

5.111 apparatus for automatically changing from one kind of fuel to another in operating internal combustion engines the combinatlon of an engine supply p1pe,'a service pipe connected w1th a gas system, a supply pipe leading from a source of liquid fuel individual to the apparatus, a single threeway valve device connecting the said three pipes and controlling the flow from the fuel supply pipes to the engine supply pipe, a

diaphragm controller connected with the off the connection with the liquid fuel supply, and to cut oil the gas supply and turn on the liquid fuel supply when the pressure Jone s. OONNELLY. j

Copier of this patent may be obtained for fivc'cents each, by audressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Weahingtoml), 0. y 

